Shaun the Sheep & Friends FAST Channel Debuts

Aardman has launched the Shaun the Sheep & Friends FAST channel on Xumo Play, with plans to debut on VIZIO WatchFree+ and Samsung TV Plus in the U.S. soon.

The channel features content from Shaun the Sheep, Timmy Time, Learning Time with Timmy, Wallace & Gromit, The Very Small Creatures, Lloyd of the Flies: The Adventures of Arachnofly and Morph, with dedicated content blocks for preschoolers, older kids and the whole family.

Viewers will also have access to titles from Aardman’s distribution portfolio, including Interstellar Ella (Fabrique Fantastique, Apartment 11), Pop Paper City (LoveLove Films), Happy the Hoglet and Sol (Paper Owl Films), and Alphablocks and Numberblocks (Blue Zoo). More will launch on the channel in the coming months.

To coincide with the launch of the FAST channel, Aardman plans to debut over 12 shows on demand via Xumo Play and Samsung TV Plus as well, increasing the ways audiences can access content in whatever way they want to.

“Our TV channel launch is a key part of our U.S. digital strategy, where our goal is to engage with audiences wherever they are,” said Laura Taylor-Williams, head of digital and strategic development at Aardman. “In a fragmented market, we see FAST channels as helping audiences discover content and aiding onward watching via other ways, whether that be AVOD, SVOD, TVOD.

“Our channel has a wealth of much-loved and award-winning shows curated with bespoke behind-the-scenes content, branded craft and drawing tutorials. Shaun the Sheep & Friends will have dedicated content blocks for preschoolers, older kids and the whole family. A channel, trusted by parents, that will seek to not only entertain audiences but could help inspire the next generation of animators.

“Scheduling new series alongside Aardman family favorites, we will introduce audiences to fantastic new brands from Aardman’s acclaimed independent producer partners.”

“Shaun the Sheep & Friends joins a growing collection of family-friendly channels on Xumo Play,” commented Stefan Van Engen, VP of content programming and partnerships at Xumo. “With programming beloved by many across the U.S., the launch of this new channel will give our viewers another great option in family entertainment.”

“At VIZIO, we’re committed to serving up high-quality entertainment for audiences of all ages,” added Greg Barnard, senior director of content acquisitions and strategy at VIZIO. “Soon, families can enjoy the Shaun the Sheep & Friends FAST channel on VIZIO WatchFree+ with no downloads or subscriptions required.”